Changes in the behaviour before normal calving to predict its onset in Mediterranean buffaloes heifers

Breeding records and visual observations of anatomical and behavioural modifications are currently used in buffaloes to predict calving time and to anticipate any intervention if needed. In this respect, while many studies have been carried out on cows, little information concerning the behavioural pattern before the normal calving of dairy buffaloes is available. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to describe the pre-calving behavioural pattern of Mediterranean buffalo heifers and to identify when the behavioural changes occurred approaching delivery. Twenty Italian Mediterranean buffalo heifers (calving at 30 +/-; 1.5 months), individually housed from 12.5 +/- 2.5 days before the expected calving, were constantly monitored with video cameras equipped with infrared light. A behavioural analysis of 12 h of the third day before calving (control period) and of the 12 h pre -calving was performed to evidence changes between the control and pre-calving period and within the pre -calving period. No significant differences were noted within pre-calving and when contrasted with the control period for feeding and drinking duration and frequency. Heifers were lying for a shorter amount of time and walking longer during the pre-calving than during the control period (p < 0.001) but no differences were observed in the hourly analysis within the pre-calving period. A 60% increase in the lying bouts frequency was observed from the control to the pre-calving period (p < 0.001) and a marked increase occurred specifically in the last four hours before calving (p < 0.001). The walking bouts frequency increased from the control to the pre -calving period (p < 0.001) both in the overall and hourly analysis and was found to increase significantly in the last eight hours (p < 0.001). Moreover, the frequency of tail raises, ground pawing and of movements of the head towards the abdomen was found to increase significantly from the sixth, the fourth and the third hour before calving, respectively (p < 0.001). Therefore, the frequency of lying, walking and tail raising represents the most useful behaviours to predict calving in Mediterranean buffaloes. In addition, other less-frequently studied be-haviours such as the frequency of ground pawing and of the movements of the head towards the abdomen were found to be indicative of the imminence of calving. The present results provide a detailed description of the behavioural pattern of the Mediterranean buffalo in the pre-calving period and could be useful for the adaptation of future devices for the detection of imminent calving in this species.